President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech put a spotlight on housing with frequent references to the housing crisis that helped topple the broader economy, a proposal to help more underwater homeowners and the announcement of a unit to investigate mortgage and financial fraud.

Obama promised to send Congress a plan to allow more underwater homeowners to refinance, taking advantage of record low interest rates.

Details were scarce, but Obama said it would allow "every responsible homeowner" to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage.

The program is expected to include private home loans, which were excluded from the administration's previous programs. Those refinancing programs were limited to government-backed loans, which the Federal Reserve said excluded between 1 and 2.5 million homeowners who might otherwise qualify. (Earlier: Obama touts new housing aid amid questions of how many will benefit)

Obama called for the Justice Department to create a new unit to investigate mortgage abuse.

The Associated Press reports New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will lead the task force. Schneiderman was forced out of the group of attorneys general negotiating a settlement with big banks after he started his own investigation. A draft of that settlement has reportedly been sent to state attorneys general for review.

More infrastructure spending

Obama promised an executive order to cut back on red tape blocking government construction projects, and he called on Congress to approve more spending on infrastructure.

He proposed putting some money that had been used on the military in Iraq and Afghanistan toward construction projects, putting idled construction workers back on the job.

But that proposal might not go far in a Congress looking to cut spending.